"Okay, wife, I'll go now." After saying this, Yun the butcher cleaned the large iron pot, added half a pot of water, put the bamboo grate in, covered it with a layer of cage cloth, and covered the pot.
Butcher Yun used hay to ignite the firewood, and then put in a few thicker pieces of firewood. After the firewood in the stove was completely burning, he washed his hands and went to help Zhang roll out the dough.
Zhang had already divided the dough into small pieces. Then, she pressed the small pieces with both hands at the same time, and soon all the small pieces were flattened.
Meanwhile, Yun the Butcher took his rolling pin and began rolling out the dough. Zhang took advantage of this opportunity to add appropriate amounts of salt to both fillings and mix them evenly.
Zhang looked up and saw that Yun the Butcher had already rolled out a large pile of dough. So she quickly began making dumplings. Zhang started with the round ones, the ones with lots of pleats.
I only saw Zhang put a large chopstick of stuffing on a piece of dough, then started to knead the dough with her right hand, and soon she made a beautiful round bun.
To separate the two fillings, Zhang's radish-filled buns are round, while the cabbage-filled buns are in the shape of ingots. They're plump and very pretty.
Yun the butcher and Zhang were both very efficient workers, and they quickly finished wrapping the buns with both fillings. The fillings were all used up, but there was a piece of dough left, which Zhang kept as a dough.
Butcher Yun washed his hands, lifted the lid of the pot and took a look. The pot was full of steam, and he listened carefully to the gurgling sound coming from the pot.
"Wife, the water in the pot is boiling. You can put the buns in now."
"Here you are! Help me open the lid of the pot." Zhang came over carrying a large steamed bun covered with a lid.
Zhang started putting buns into the pot. When it was full, there were still half of the buns on the lid.
"Okay, cover the pot and keep the fire going. The buns will be cooked in about twenty minutes."
"Okay." Butcher Yun covered the pot and put more firewood into the stove, increasing the fire.
Zhang returned to the table and washed a large radish. She cut it into thin strips and placed them in a clay pot. Finally, she added salt, pepper powder, and sesame oil, mixing well. Now, a delicious cold dish was ready.
Next, Zhang took out seven bowls and placed them in order, adding two tablespoons of fried noodles to each bowl. After the steamed buns were finished, she simply added water to the bowl and stirred thoroughly. It was not only convenient but also delicious.
Zhang estimated that it was almost time, so she went to the pot, opened the lid and looked at the buns. The aroma of the buns instantly hit her. She pressed the buns to make sure they were cooked, and then started picking them out.
By the time Zhang had steamed the second batch of buns in the large iron pot, the weather had grown a bit cooler. A commotion could be heard from the square.
"Wife, you light the fire. I'll go get some water."
"Okay, boss, just drive the mule cart there." Zhang also knew that buying water was a big deal and could not be delayed.
"Okay." Yun the butcher said, and then he harnessed the mule cart and drove it to the city gate to buy water.
At this time, free water was being drawn at the city gate, and there was no queue in front of the officers and soldiers selling water, which was convenient for Yun the Butcher.
In a short while, Yun the Butcher had filled three water jars. He paid the soldiers and drove his mule cart back. Along the way, he encountered several villagers from Yunjia Village who had come to buy water.
When Butcher Yun arrived home, Zhang's second pot of buns was already out of the pot. She was taking out the buns that Butcher Yun had bought in the city yesterday and reheating them in the pot. She would eat them in the morning.
By now, it was already very bright.
"Master, please wake up the children. Once they have washed up, they can have dinner."
Butcher Yun nodded and went to wake the children up.
"Big brother, second brother, third brother, Yiyi, Zirui, get up and get ready for dinner."
As soon as Yun the Butcher finished speaking, the three Yun brothers got up one after another.
After a few minutes, Xie Zirui also got up.
Now only Yun Yiyi was still asleep. Just as Yun the Butcher was about to pick her up, Yun Yiyi rubbed her eyes and sat up. Okay, this time it's easy.
So, under the leadership of Boss Yun, the children all went to wash up.
By the time the children sat down at the table, Zhang had already prepared the buns, cold dishes, and fried flour, so they could eat right away.
After Zhang and Yun the Butcher sat down, everyone started to eat. Although it was not very bright outside, it was enough to eat. So Zhang extinguished the oil lamp.
After Yun the Butcher and his companions finished breakfast, the village chief urged them to leave. Everyone hurried to gather their cooking and dining supplies. Zhang busied herself with washing dishes and basins. The children helped load the cart.
Butcher Yun also carefully covered the ashes in the stove hole with a thick layer of soil. This way, it would be less likely to cause a fire. Butcher Yun originally planned to use water, but then thought better of it and decided not to.
After everyone packed up everything and put it on the cart, Yun the Butcher harnessed the cart. Everyone stood aside and waited until the Yunjia Village team took the official road. Only then did Yun the Butcher and his men drive the cart to follow.
In front of Yun the Butcher was Old Man Wu's family. They now had two horse-drawn carriages and a mule-drawn cart, so the team was a bit long.
The Yun family's donkey cart, driven by Yun Lao Er and Yun Lao San, was in the front. The cart wasn't loaded with anything heavy, so the two brothers sat on it, and the speed was much faster than before.
In the middle were Boss Yun, Yun Yiyi, and Xie Zirui. Boss Yun was driving the cart. Yun Yiyi and Xie Zirui had gone back to sleep in the mule cart. The sun hadn't risen yet, and the temperature wasn't high, making it the perfect time for sleep.
At the end of the procession was the mule cart driven by Yun the Butcher and Zhang. Yun the Butcher sat outside, driving. Zhang had parted the curtains and was cutting a piece of cotton cloth with scissors. She planned to use the day's travel time to make clothes and quilts for the whole family.
Zhang used to help push the cart, which was tiring and time-consuming. Now, she could sit on the mule cart, which was not tiring either, and was perfect for making clothes. Zhang happily cut the fabric, already imagining how adorable Yun Yiyi would look in her new clothes.
Zhang planned to make cotton clothes for Xie Zirui after she finished making the single clothes for Yun Yiyi. This was mainly because the second and third Yun brothers could give Xie Zirui two sets of the single clothes he wore to change into.
However, cotton clothes cannot be evenly distributed. Yun Lao Er and Yun Lao San also need to make another set of thicker cotton clothes.
So, Zhang thought about making two sets of thick clothes for Xie Zirui first, and then making them for the others. After all, the weather couldn't get cold all of a sudden. However, it had been noticeably cooler in the mornings and evenings recently.
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